Post.



Pat ented May 20', I902.

IL. A... PRATT.

.51 Nov. 8, 1901.

(Applicatio (No Model.)

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVERETT A. PRATT, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN;

POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,234, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed November 8, 1901. Serial No. 81,624. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVERETT A. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for strengthening or reinforcing fence-posts-orother columns made of cement or concrete, and pertains more particularly to the construction and arrangement of reinforcing strips or bands embedded in the post.

The objects are to provide a metal wire or strap adapted to be embeddedin the post before the cementhardens, the reinforcing band or wire being of such shape that it will greatly strengthen the post againsttransverse strain or blows and also avoid the liability of straining or cracking the post under changes of temperature.

A further object is to provide integral with the reinforcing wire loops or projections which extend outside the post and are adapt ed to support fence-wires or to hold wooden strips upon which fenceboards or other wooden pieces may be nailed.

A further object is to produce a reinforcing device of the kind described which shall be simple in construction and of such form as to permit its being easily and quickly embedded in a cement post without the aid of skilled labor. v v

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a part-longitudinal section ofa cement post embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detail of a single loop. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the ends of a severed loop twisted around a fence-wire. Fig. 4: is a detail showing the manner of fasteninga wooden strip to the cement post by means of a loop. Fig. 5 is a front view of a fence-wire clamped to awooden strip by the twisted ends of a severed loop. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a post having a wooden strip secured thereto. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a modified form of post, showing a fence-Wire passing through a loop.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the re inforcing-band consists in a galvanized or other non-corrosive strip orwire, preferably bent back upon itself, forming a reinforcing member A, which is crimped in case a round wire is employed or spirally twisted if a strip of rectangular section is used. The object of crimping the wire is to more firmly secure it against slipping longitudinally when the post is subjected to a transverse strain tending to break it.

pansion or contraction of the post and wire when subjected to sudden changes of temperature. The other'member B of the binding-wire extends parallel with the front face of the post. At intervals the member B is twisted to form a number of loops 1 2 3 4., spaced at suitable intervals in the length of the post. The'outer end of each loop projects beyond the face of the post,rhaving the appearance of a staple driven in'from the outside. -It is impossible, however, to tear the loop from the post without either tearing the wire in two or breaking the post. The object of the loops is to form fastenings for any articles which may be secured to the p0st.-as, for instance, fencewires w, which may be slipped through eyes of the loops, or strips of wood or metals, which Another object is to prevent cracking-the post on account of unequal exare secured to the post by passing the loop through a slot 3 in the strip 5 and locking the strip by driving a wedge or nail nthrough the loop, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. When itis desired to firmly hold a fence-wire against longitudinal movement, the wire may be clamped, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, by first severing the loop, as indicated by the line a a; of Fig. 2, and then intertwisting the severed ends around the wire '10. By properly twisting the ends the wire to is kinked, as shown at w in Fig.

5, and is thus firmly held against slipping lonconcrete posts which combines in a single piece a reinforcing-strip, which strengthens the post against transverse strain, prevents cracking by changes of temperature,and comprises means for securely attaching the strips, wires, or other articles to the post.

lVhile I have described the device as applicable to fence-posts, it is obvious that it can also be applied to railway mile-posts, telegraph-poles, and other similar articles.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the kind described, a wire bent back upon itself to form two members one of which is crimped and the other provided at intervals with loops formed by twisting the wire, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a device of the kind described, a wire bent back upon itself to form two members one of which is crimpcd throughout its length LEVERETT A. PRATT.

\Vitnesses:

I. GOULD, W. A. STEPHENS. 

